Hey kids: don’t make stupid threats on the Internet. Strangers have no way of knowing you’re joking. Don’t think you get to be a jerk online. Some people have a habit of distinguishing between online things and “in real life,” but the people online are real people, and what you’re doing online is real life. Don’t make stupid threats on the Internet. You can argue this kid is being treated too harshly, but don’t be stupid anyway.

The hidden reason people are up in arms about Aereo, the innovative service looking to rent out antennas to deliver free over-the-air television: cable is losing subscribers to free broadcasts, and that cuts into profits. They got used to people with the money getting cable, and if those people go back, then that’s giving up profits they used to get.